The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-08-18

stared, till presently singing out the court
house he marched for it, followed by the

stared, tlll presently Singing out the court
house he marched for it, followed by the
fair one.
They have come to be married, rumor
soon ran. But alas! No marriage with
out license. No license without dollar
Disconsolate and crestfallen they stand.
Their combined fortunes do not reach the
dollar mark. The fair ones cheeks grow
higher, her eyes follower, her jaws broad
er. The br, ne looks blank and cracks
his fingers. Iuu the father of the lad ap-
peared by this time and humbly asked aid
in the matter.
''lt was not often,' he said, ''that man
had chance O. marrying as nice O. oman
as thet, an he feared eff they waited Polly
might git outen the notion"
Two hearts that beat as one find sympa-
thy. The hat is passed around, the license
is signed. Now towards the count hall.
Bat the well wishers increase Small boys
gather, with dogs. Coatless men struggle
up. The store closes with hasty bang
Curious heads are thrust from windows
One rings the county bell; another brings
yard of red calico. Surely no man would
marry without a cravat, And for coat,
a friend remembers an ancient swallow
tail. The hall holds the we'll -wishers. The
Brave and the Fair are entering. Two le-
gal youths, coatless, follow as volunteer
walters s'Give her yo' arm," one whis-
pers, but the Brave gives it in the usual
way; he puts it around her.
''Order in COURT calls the Squire, for
the two are before him.
candy, Will you have -, but it seems
he will not, for suddenly the far one
turns, breaks, is gOne'
"Catch her thar one calls. "Head her
Off" another. Two dogs fight, and one
we'll wisher falls from the window Con
fusion reiyns. Alone like a post in a
storm, the deserted one stands silent, in
blank amazement, jaws like to drop asun-
der, the Fair gone, the day lost and
two dollars spent in vain.
But a Ulysses is chosen. one of pprSua
sive tongue Perhaps he told her of wreck
ed lives, despair and suicide; certain it is
that two dollars figured When again
would license be furnishedl Never. He
goes not in vain. She comes. ''Shet the
do when she gifts in calls one. Say
EN- man and wife fust thing, yells another
to the Squire, 'sthen eff she runs again it
II be did," Two tiddles squeak ''Arkan-
saw Traveller" by way of a march. Some
propose cheer. The Squire yells ''Si-
leuce." and suppressed excitement is in
tense Urged by wiley Ulysses the fair one
is in place again, hidden in the shadow of
a gigantic shaker" The ceremony pro
ceeds and the well-wishers crowd near,
silence in court the Squire thunders
again, and the fair one is like to have run
off. by the power invested IN me now
pronounce you , but stop, Whar's that
rlng?' The best man had il handy, brass,
of immense size, provided by welwishers.
''Put that ring on, says the voice Of the
law. The horny hand goes out and the
wedding ring is on two fingers. II now
pronounce you man and wife. Salute your
bride" But the groom only stares. ''Kiss
her. kiss her" it is quickly translated.
All, he comprehends, and the clownish
face, broad with delight, explores the
shadow of the shaker bonnet till a sound
ing smack tells that the fair one is found
The tiddlers strike ap, the cheers break
out, the Brave and the Fair hurry away,
followed adown the road with well wish
ing procession, pausing just long enough
for the sketch artist to put them OF paper
But presently whoOps were heard, uncer-
tain cheers and strange sounds, and the
Brave wobbled into sight once more, wob
bling along the road from one side to the
other His spirits were high now, he was
returning to thank wellwishers, and was
gloriously drunk.
john W. HAYS